American Express Centurion Black

I've had the Centurion card for over 10 years. During that period, we have lost status at Continental/United, AA perks, US Air Platinum status, and Virgin Atlantic Gold. It has been replaced by Hertz Platinum (which I must say I do enjoy) and Centurion Lounges. If you have used their travel services, I probably not need to say more. As for the web site, they need a 15 year old to help them build a responsive site that is well laid out.

While the Centurion customer service reps in Fort Lauderdale are great, if you need to talk to any other department or need a card sent to a different address, you enter AMEX hell. Wait for 25 minutes only to be told they are still really backed up. This is customer service? It has happened more than once. When I ask the Centurion Reps why I should keep my black card since it seems virtually all the benefits are available with the platinum card, they find it very difficult to justify. Recently, I have been misled ("Only Centurion Card holders get into the Centurion lounges for free. Platinum Members have to pay." Not true.) and the most important reason to keep it is understanding how many people want the card. Really? OK, so it's the ego card.

My ego is not defined by the color of a credit card. So it is time to wave goodbye to my Centurion card and maybe, gasp, go to classic green!

I've had a Centurion card for over 5 years. Lately, the service has declined quite a lot. Formerly, one had a dedicated travel consultant and concierge ... now first come first served. They now explain: "Your call will be routed to your assigned team." Now I have an assigned team? I don't think so. Very long waits on telephone. May need to call them back a lot of times. Website is worse than poor for travel or concierge access.

I will not renew.

i possessed a centurion card for about two years. from about 10 advertised advantages not one was possible like moreover partner tickets on flights. to keep the funds spent on that card for other expenses would have been more rewarding. i wanted to mention this in a sereen way on the amex reviews page but noting was published with a message that my comments needed moderation.

Go in to plenty of detail, talk about the key elements you like, was there anything you

THE SERVICE OR LACK THERE OF IS BEYOND REPROACH.

EVERY TIME I HAVE TRIED TO USE THE CONCIERGE SERVICE THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHY I PAY $5000 A YEAR FOR A CARD THAT HAS NO MORE BENEFITS THAN A PLATINUM BANK CARD.

THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER IS THE MOST INCOMPETENT PERSON I HAVE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF DEALING WITH.

SPEND THE $100 DOLLARS A WEEK THAT THIS USLESS CARD COSTS ON SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL ENJOY.

PLEASE BE UNDER NO ILLUSION, THIS CARD AND ITS SERVICES ARE PATHETIC, YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT CAN ORGANISE ACCOM AND FLIGHTS FOR HALF THE COST AND THEY WONT MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE THE USELESS TEAM AT CENTURION.

THEY CANT EVEN ORGANISE TICKETS FOR CONCERTS.. I RANG FOR TICKETS TO A CONCERT AND WAS TOLD THAT ONLY (B) SECTION SEATS AVAILABLE, SO I RANG TICKET TEC, 2 DAYS LATER, AND SIMPLY PURCHASED (A) SECTION SEATS.

I HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH THIS DEPLORABLE SERVICE FOR 5 YEARS, JUST THINK, $25000, THATS A NEW HARLEY......

IF I CAN OFFER ANY ADVICE, SPEND THE CASH THIS CARD COSTS YOU, ON YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY. YOU WILL BE MUCH HAPPIER....

Ihad a gold card 1982 and was invited to get the black card in 1997,i used it ever since to pay stors,hotels etc.I used the travell service once,and could have got a much better deal if i did it through my travell agent.I also issued a black card for my son,and two platinum cards for my daughters.I do not think that the annual fees i pay is justifid.I experianced delay and trouble to get portion of the compensation for travell insurance claims.I will not renew my membership again.

I couldn't beleve the almost 300% increase in cost to have this card, but i was convinced by the member of staff who called to persuade me of the incresed benefits. I felt obliged to use the service more once I renewed my membership, and can only describe my experiances with the concierge and travel service as dissapointing. I have been able to achieve better deals and better service independantly. On a positive note, the automatic upgrade to Virgin Gold card status has been a great experiance!

I've been with Amex for 23 years. I was invited to receive the Centurion card and accepted it, despite its the 650 pound fee. Worked well for me since they introduced it.

Now, Centurion ceases to exist they asked me to have the Titanium for 1800 pounds. Why? I don't need nor use many of the facilities offered, yet I was happy to pay the 650 for Centurion....However, I am not going to keep the Titanium and I will be reverting to Platinum as of the 20th January. The fee is 300 pounds.

The fact that I have been with Amex for 23 years means absolutely nothing to them. I didn't ask for the Titanium card and would not have opted for it if the Centurion had continued to function. Why should I pay THREE times the fee for no reason? Big mistake, American Express! You should value your customers because it's a tough world out there. If they had given me the Titanium for the same fee as Centurion they would have got 350 pound/pa more than now. I am pretty cheesed off with Amex. Anybody know of another card that offers Priority Pass for free with the card?

I am a founding member from 1999 with Centurion. At first I was really happy with the whole concept and the service - for ringing a personal contact was the best part of the whole service. Then in 2008 they tripled the card fee - and worst still "deleted" the personal contact part of the service. (Fortunately I have - only just - managed to hold on to a personal conact who is very helpful to me). Now its hit and miss and annoyingly if you speak to someone say a 12 noon - you have to give out a bunch of security answers to questions. They then call you back say at 1pm with details of your travel - and you have to answer the whole lot again to the SAME individual. Absolutely bizarre. Very unlikely to renew next year and will probably downgrade to Platinum .

I have given up with Centurion - what, exactly am I paying 1800 quid a year for?

Travel service? - Always more expensive than any other travel agent. Occasional benefits in hotel on "Fine Hotels" - that you get with Platinum card anyway. Hopeless at booking any hotel that isn't a big brand.

Companion seats on flights? - only on "qualifying" fares that are at least double - and more, what I pay through a regular travel agent.

SPG Gold card? - I get a Platinum card, ta v much as I am a regular SPG guest and have been for several years

ICH Priority Club - a PP loyalty program that rarely, if ever, offers any benefits (see why I stay with SPG, above)

HH Club - WOFTAM

Priority Club Pass? - access to inferior lounges (that I get in to anyway as I usually only fly first/ business). Or if on lo-cost carrier can buy my way in for 15 quid

Travel insurance? - I can do better on the open market for a third of the money

Concierge service? - Ok if all I want to do is send flowers to mum. For everything else (clubs/restaurants/theatre) useless - in fact easier and less hassle to google and call myself

Impressing the Impressionable - I spend 6 months a year in Thailand. Having $30us in my wallet has a far more beneficial effect if I'm feeling lonely.

The only positives is their accounts people are usually accesible on the phone without long waits and on the one occasion I made an insurance clainnm the assistance company was very helpful.

I've cancelled - and had a customer advisor spend 20 minutes on the phone trying to defend it. His replies were so automatic, I guess he must hear it dozens of times a day.